Shades of blue - Lake Titicaca

Ancient inland sea

Lake Titicaca straddles both Peru and Bolivia. It's world's largest high altitude lake. The settlements along the lake shore are traditional Ayamara villages. Note, that you are 3800m above the sea level with Cordilliera Real peaks (4000m) in the background. 

 

 

 

 

 

Spectacular lake views

Traveling from La Paz we stopped in Copacabana (Bolivian site).
Lake Titicaca is impressive.
It makes you understand why did Incas consider it as a sacred place.They believed that it was a birthplace of their civilization.

Entering Isla de la Luna:







The origin of the name Titicaca is unknown. It has been translated as "Rock Puma", as local communities have traditionally interpreted the shape of the lake to be that of a puma hunting a rabbit. "Titicaca" combines words from the local languages Quechua and Aymara.

If you want to get off the main tourist track - take a trip to Isla de Sol and Isla de Luna. We could see it was organized  only for tourists but in a much smaller scope. Additional plus is that you get your own chair on the roof ...



There are less than 2500 inhabitants in Isla de Sol and less than 50 in Isla de la Luna. Most of them belong to local tributaries. It's sad but you have to pay them to take a picture of them. Oh, and there are few checkpoints where we had to pay additionally. Yes, the tourists are exploited to the last penny ;-).
There are no cars on the islands and no big hotels. Since machines are not allowed on the island, all agriculture is done by hand.

Fresh trout - troucha fresca - caught in front of you and served with rice and salad for only 25 bolivianos - tastes delicious!

 Pollera and manta

Clothing of Bolivian Andean women of indigenous descent includes the pollera (pleated-skirt), the 19th century European bowler hat, and the silky shawl known as a manta. Now it is also a symbol of pride in being indigenous. However, traditional dress is decreasing amongst the younger generation. As more young women move to cities, go to university, and work professional jobs, the polleras are being replaced by jeans and other Western style clothing.
The traditional skirts look like this:

Quinua is the basic food product: